She had her solo debut as Suzuki in Madam Butterfly with The Norwegian National Opera in Oslo in 1971.
[1] She also studied with famous opera singers, including Astrid Varnay, Ingrid Bjoner and Aase Nordmo Løvberg.
Staahlen sang in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Scotland, England and the United States, and performed many oratorios and concerts.
Her repertoire of more than twenty works included Bach's Mass in B Minor, Händel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Elgar’s Sea Pictures.
She was married to the Scottish musician Neil David Percival Dodd (1939–2005), who was first répétiteur and conductor on The Norwegian National Opera.